Middle School MyPlan Teacher Resources

What is Middle School MyPlan?

Middle School MyPlan is an online tool that helps Maine students in grades 6-8 start thinking about and aspiring to bright futures. Content was developed in alignment with Maine’s Learning Results and input from many experts including Maine Department of Education, JMG, University of Maine System, Maine Community College System, 4H, and of course, the Alfond Scholarship Foundation. Activities offered through the Middle School MyPlan tool were designed to align with the Maine Learning Results.

JUMP TO SECTION: What is Middle School MyPlan?Here’s How Middle School MyPlan WorksHow to Get StartedHow to Use Middle School MyPlanHow Middle School MyPlan Aligns with Maine Learning ResultsMore Resources

Why We Need You

Maine historically has a high rate of high school graduation, but a lower rate of students continuing education after high school. Most areas of job growth in today’s and tomorrow’s economy require some education or training beyond a high school diploma. Maine students, like students everywhere, benefit from engaging in early thinking and exploration about what kind of future they want for themselves. Enter Middle School MyPlan.

A central feature of Middle School MyPlan is consistent communication between adults and students. As a teacher or advisor, you’ll be asked to support your students by verifying they’ve engaged in various activities—and more importantly—by encouraging their exploration of future opportunities and engaging them in conversations about what the future holds.

Why We Need You

Maine historically has a high rate of high school graduation, but a lower rate of students continuing education after high school. Most areas of job growth in today’s and tomorrow’s economy require some education or training beyond a high school diploma. Maine students, like students everywhere, benefit from engaging in early thinking and exploration about what kind of future they want for themselves. Enter Middle School MyPlan.

A central feature of Middle School MyPlan is consistent communication between adults and students. As a teacher or advisor, you’ll be asked to support your students by verifying they’ve engaged in various activities—and more importantly—by encouraging their exploration of future opportunities and engaging them in conversations about what the future holds.

Here’s How Middle School MyPlan Works

At its core, the Middle School MyPlan tool is a learning opportunity for students to build a foundation of knowledge and experience that will bolster their future success. Students complete tasks in the categories of DO, SAVE and LEARN that get them thinking and learning about future education and career paths.

Watch the short video to see Middle School MyPlan in action.

Do

Activities to do at home or at school to help students explore the future

Save

Information, resources, and fun activities to help students understand the power of saving

Learn

Great information + activities about the options for education after high school

GET READY

How to Get Started

Step 1

Contact The Alfond Scholarship Foundation (ASF) and we’ll send you a link to Middle School MyPlan that you can share with your students. (By doing this, you’re giving permission for students to create an online account and profile. Don’t worry, ASF won’t share any information).

Step 2

Each student creates an account and profile and provides contact information for the adult in their life who will help them with Middle School MyPlan. If you are using this at school, you as the teacher will probably be the adult, but the student may also add a parent or other adult that wants to help them. The adult will verify that some of the activities have been completed.

Step 3

Students are ready to explore and make their first plan!

LET’S GO

How to Use Middle School MyPlan

Step 1: Choose Quick Start or Build Your Own Plans

Step 1: Choose Quick Start or Build Your Own Plans

Students begin by choosing between Quick Start or Build Your Own plans. Quick Start automatically selects tasks and creates the first plan for the student. Build Your Own allows students to choose the activities they would like to complete. Activities are divided into three categories (Do, Save, and Learn) and support student aspirations and future planning. Each task should take between 10-20 minutes, although some (like helping a neighbor with chores) may require time outside of school.

Next Step

Step 2: Check off completed tasks

Step 2: Check off completed tasks

Once a student has completed a task, they check it off on their MyPlan. Some tasks need adult verification before they can be marked as complete. (We noted in the task description if the task needs this.) When a student checks off a task requiring an adult to verify, an email will be sent to the adult the student identified when they created their profile. A pop-up window will let the student know we’ve sent an email to the adult. Once the adult receives the email and “Agrees” that the student has completed the task, the task will be checked off.

Next Step

Step 3: Get a reward!

Step 3: Get a reward!

When a student completes a task, they earn digital badges called “MAGgys” and are automatically entered in a drawing to win a $25 Amazon Gift Card. Most tasks earn one entry, but some tasks earn more. Talk about a great way to encourage students to interact with the program more frequently!

Next Step

How Middle School MyPlan aligns with Maine’s Learning Results

Middle School MyPlan aligns with a variety of Maine Learning Results areas. Here’s how:

“DO” Activities Alignment

“DO” Activities Alignment

The “DO” activities align with the following Life and Career Ready Standards:

A.1 Self-knowledge

Students demonstrate and reflect on personal characteristics, attitudes, and interests that develop life skills and lead to career readiness, emphasizing national and global awareness.

A.2 Life Skills

Students demonstrate and reflect on skills that influence interpersonal relationships in positive ways in school, work, and the regional and national community.

“SAVE” Activities Alignment

“SAVE” Activities Alignment

The “SAVE” activities align with the following Personal Finance & Economics Standards:

F.2 Personal Finance

Identifying factors that contribute to spending or saving decisions.

D.1 Personal Finance

Using a process for making spending and savings decisions based on work, wages, income, expenses, and budgets as they relate to the study of individual financial choices.

“LEARN” Activities Alignment

“LEARN” Activities Alignment

The “LEARN” activities align with the following Life and Career Ready Standards:

B.1 Exploring Opportunities

Students use and analyze resources to purposely and creatively explore a variety of post high school options.

C.1 Planning 

Students develop, implement, and adjust goals as they relate to future paths.

C.2 Career Awareness and Adaptability 

Students consider personal aptitudes, evolving personal interests, and current employment trends, locally and globally, as they develop future plans.

CONTENT WAS DEVELOPED BY THE ALFOND SCHOLARSHIP FOUNDATION WITH INPUT FROM OUR PARTNERS AT:
MORE RESOURCES

Are there additional resources available?

Yes! Here are some additional resources that will help your students and their families get thinking about their future:

MORE RESOURCES

Are there additional resources available?

Yes! Here are some additional resources that will help your students and their families get thinking about their future:

Ready to Get Started?

If you’d like to bring Middle School MyPlan to your classroom, please contact us. We’ll send you a link to share with your students—let the fun (and learning) begin!

CONTACT ALFOND SCHOLARSHIP FOUNDATION

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